Eiffel Tower chief to quit after female staff replaced by men during religious visit

Patrick Branco Ruivo, the chief executive of the company that manages the iconic Eiffel Tower, will resign at the end of the year following a dispute over male staff replacing female employees during a visit by a Hindu religious group. SETE, the company responsible for the landmark, disclosed the decision in a statement, citing "operational flaws and shortcomings" in organizing the visit as the cause for the removal of female staff.

An internal investigation revealed that the "unacceptable" action violated gender equality principles.

The Hindu delegation, comprising around 100 individuals associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) group, visited the Eiffel Tower earlier this month. BAPS, a movement with origins in the 18th century, strictly separates men and women, including in temple activities and entrances. During the visit, BAPS requested that interactions with women be limited, which SETE deemed unacceptable and should not have been accepted.

The staff union representative expressed that women were compelled to leave their workstations and felt humiliated, while employees at the monument reported that female staff were also instructed to avoid specific areas while the delegation was present. The incident prompted staff to go on strike, resulting in the tower's closure. Political figures, such as Yaël Braun-Pivet, the president of France’s National Assembly, and Emmanuel Gregoire, the Socialist mayor of Paris, strongly condemned the decision.

Following the controversy, SETE chair Ariel Weil announced measures and training programs promoting gender equality. He stated that the coming months would allow for the preparation of a leadership transition under optimal conditions. BAPS subsequently apologized for any pain or inconvenience caused, emphasizing their commitment to universal values of mutual respect and service.

The group describes itself as a spiritual, volunteer-driven fellowship dedicated to societal improvement through Hindu values, with temples in major cities worldwide.